Wheel.



Pate'nzed July 29, |9o2. E. J. EDWARDS.

W H E E L (Application filed May ,1 1. 1901.)

2 Sheets-Sheet I.

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N0. 705,567. 'Patented July 29," |9o2.

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WHEEL.4

(Application. tiled May 11, 1901.) i (l0 llndl.) 2 Sheds-Sheet 2.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE;

ELLSWORTH J. EDWARDS, OF ASPEN, COLORAD.

WHEEL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of'Letters latent N o. 705,567, dated July29, 1902. Application filed May 11, 1901. serial No. 59,841. (Np model.)

Beitknown that LELLswoETH tTimm/lans, a citizen of the United States,residing at Aspen, inthe county of Pitkin and State of Colorado, haveinvented a new and useful Wheel, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention relates generally to wheels, and more particularly `tothe peculiar construction of the spokes and the manner of attaching thesame to the hub, the object of the invention being to provide ahighly-elastic` wheel which shall at the same time be exceed inglystrong and durable.

With these objects in view the invention consists, essentially, inproviding a hub with flanged collars at each end and to which the endsof the spokes are attached through the' medium of iianged nipples, saidnipples resting upon springs interposed between their flanges and theflanged collars of the hub.

The invention consists also in the peculiarhub. Fig. 3 is a detailviewof the tapering and anged nipple. Fig. 4 is a sectional elevationshowing the manner of connecting the central portion of the spokes tothe wheelrim or felly. Fig. 5 is a detail view illustrating.

the threaded sleeve.` Fig. 6 is a sectional view of the spokeconnection. Fig. 7'is `a slightly-modified form of wheel-rirn. Fig. 8 isa view showing the interior of the hub and illustrating aslightly-modified arrangement of the springs.v Fig: 9 is a detail viewshowing a still further modification, and Fig. 10 is aplan viewillustrating the construction of the springs shown in Fig. 9.

In carrying out my invention Iemploy a sleeve-hub A, having annularvertical flanged collars, from which project annular horizontal collarsB, formed adjacent to each end, the inner surface of the horizontalfianges beingbeveled and formed with tapered openings to receivejaperedinternally-threaded nipples throughwhich the ends of the spokes areattached, said spokes being bent centrally to form diverging spokes,their central portion being connected to therm of the felly D, ashereinafter described. The ends of the spokes are threaded, as shown atC', and pass through the flanged collars B within theinternally-threaded nipples which are secured .upon the end C"fron1 theinterior of the hub said tapering sleeves or nipples having flanges orcollars E', adapted to bear upon shown at F2, said springs F:2 beingbow-shaped and perforated at their ends, as shown at F3, and throughwhich the sleeves or nipples pass, the anges er collars bearing upon theends of the springs, the central or bow portions of said springs bearingagainst the inner faces of the hub-collars. r The ends and the centralportion off the spokes are swaged or thickened, as shown, in order togive greater strength. The central portion of the spoke is passedthrough the eye Gf of a sleeve G, which sleeve is adapted to it into asocket produced in the rim or fellyand secured therein by means of Iascrew H, passing through the rim or felly from the outside and enteringthe threaded socketG?, produced in the sleeve G.

In Fig. 4I have illustrated a'pfheel'having a flat tire, While in Fig.`6I have Aillustrated a construction adapted' to receive a rubbertire. InFig. 1I have shown a rubbertirearranged in connection with thewheel-"rim'illustrated in Fig. 7, formed of metal and essentially T-shaped in cross-section, with ilanges for retaining the rubber tire, theinner iiange of said rim being reinforced at definite points, as shownat I, and through which the spoke passes, said rim being reinforced toprovide a firmer bearing and also increase the strength of the tire atthese points.

IOO

The outer`ends of the annular flanged collars B are closed by means ofannular horizontal and vertical caps, as shown in Fig. l, and when inplace produce a uniform outer surface on both sides of the flangedcollar.

It will thus be seen that I provide an exceedingly simple and efficientconstruction of spring-wheel which shall have a maximum amount ofelasticity and at the same time be exceedingly strong and durable.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, anddesire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a Wheel, the combination With a hub having flanged collars, ofspokes having their ends extending through the said flanged collars, thetapering sleeves or nipples having flanges of collars, secured upon theends ot the spokes, and springs interposed between the flanged collarsof the hub and the flanges or collars of the sleeves or nipples,substantially as set forth.

2. In a Wheel, the combination with a hub having llanged collars, of thespokes having threaded ends passing through the said flanged collars,the tapering sleeves or nipples having langes or collars, screwed uponthe ends of the spokes and extending through the collar of the hub, thesprings arranged between the hub-collar and the llanges or collars uponthe sleeves or nipples, said sleeves or nipples passing through the saidspring substantially as described.

3. In a Wheel, the combination with a rim, of an internally-threadedsleeve arranged in said rim and having an eye at its end, a screwpassing through the rim from the outside and arranged in the threadedsleeve, and a U- shaped spoke passing through the eye of said sleeve,substantially as described.

ELLSWORTH J. EDWARDS.

Witnesses:

AMos BOURQUIsT, CHAs. WAGNER.

